Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait told a news conference Thursday he was “deeply disturbed and frankly, angered” by a widely-circulating video of a physical struggle between an off-duty Los Angeles police officer and a group of teens.

“The video shows an adult wrestling with a 13-year-old kid and ultimately firing a gun,” said Tait, who was accompanied by Police Chief Raul Quezada, Los Angeles Assistant Police Chief Michael Moore, and school district officials. “I am so thankful no one was seriously hurt, but it should never have happened, and not in one of our neighborhoods or near our schools.”

Quezada said he too was disturbed by the video and emphasized that the department is conducting a thorough investigation.

“As a father and a police chief, I too was disturbed by what I saw in the videos on the internet” said Quezada. “[But] I’m charged with enforcing the laws absent my personal feelings.”

The press conference came a day after nearly 300 people took to the streets of a quiet Anaheim neighborhood where the altercation occurred to protest and express their outrage about the confrontation.

The confrontation began around 2:40 p.m. Tuesday, less than a mile from Palm Lane Elementary, Ball Junior High and Loara High School when about 18 students of varying ages were walking home from classes and one or more took a shortcut across the officer’s lawn at a bend in the street.

Tait and Moore, who spoke on behalf of Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck, pledged to conduct “fair” and “impartial” investigations into the incident. The Anaheim Police Department will conduct a criminal investigation into the altercation and present its findings to the Orange County District Attorney, which would ultimately pursue any prosecution.

The Los Angeles Police Department will also conduct a separate internal inquiry into the officer’s use of deadly force and decide whether it warrants further discipline. The officer has since been placed on administrative leave.

“This is a long process, but it’s one meant to ensure a complete and thorough understanding of what occurred,” said Moore.

In addition, Michael Gennaco, a police expert and consultant to the city’s Public Safety Board, told the board Thursday night he has recommended that Quezada conduct a major incident review of the department’s response to the incident, and report the findings to the Public Safety Board.

The board is responsible for hearing public grievances and overseeing the city’s public safety policies. The City Council will hear a report about the efficacy of the Public Safety Board at its Feb. 28 meeting.

A handful of Anaheim residents addressed the board about the confrontation between the off-duty officer and the teens.

“This man who pulls a gun on a child should have been arrested,” said West Anaheim resident Mark Richard Daniels. “If I had done that, I would be sitting your jail now.”

Arturo Ferreras, who lives on Palais Road a few houses from where the incident occurred, said people in the neighborhood are saddened by what happened, but don’t want to see violence or protesters from outside the neighborhood exploiting the incident for political gain.

“What really bothers us is the same thing happened in Anaheim in 2012, when people outside of our neighborhood comes in there and take advantage of our victims – [both] the family of the student, and the victim [whose] house was vandalized,” said Ferreras.

In 2012, hundreds of people protested in front of City Hall after a spate of police-involved shootings left two Latino men dead.

Parts of the Tuesday confrontation was captured on cell phone video taken by a bystander. The video has gone viral on social media and shows 13-year-old Christian Dorscht, whose stepfather works for the Anaheim Police Department, struggling to escape the grip of a man in sunglasses, who was holding onto the boy’s arm and hoodie.

In the video, which does not show the entire confrontation, a number of teens following the scene urge the officer to let go of Dorscht. One teen tried to pull Dorscht free, followed by another who shoves the officer over a hedge. During the ensuing struggle, the officer pulled a gun from his waistband and fired a single round.

Dorscht and a 15-year-old who tackled the officer were both arrested. The 15-year-old was released to his parents while Dorscht was booked into Orange County Juvenile Hall and has since been released.

Prior to the incident, the officer had made several complaints to the Anaheim Police Department about issues with teenagers cutting across his front yard, said Anaheim Police Department spokesman Sgt. Daron Wyatt.

The officer apparently was upset that some students ignored his earlier instructions not to cut across his property

According to Quezada, the altercation began after Dorscht allegedly threatened to shoot the officer, although Dorscht’s parents claim that their son threatened to “sue,” not “shoot” the officer.

“He walked away and the officer made the decision to try to detain the juvenile pending our arrival,” said Quezada, who also reviewed footage from dashboard and body cameras worn by officers responding at the scene.

It’s unclear whether the officer, whose name is not being released by either the Anaheim or Los Angeles Police Department, fired his gun on purpose or by accident. But Wyatt said all 18 youth who were present voluntarily gave statements and said the officer pointed his gun at the ground, not at any individuals.

“All the kids say he never pointed [the gun] at them or felt they were threatened by the gunshot,” Wyatt told reporters.

Quezada addressed questions raised by the public at the demonstration Wednesday night about why his department arrested two minors and not the off-duty officer. He said the department did not have access to all the videos collected at the time of their initial investigation.

He said there was “clear and compelling evidence” the 13-year-old made criminal threats against the officer, and the 15-year-old committed battery. Quezada said there wasn’t enough evidence to prove “the officer’s conduct rose to the level of a criminal act.”

“Criminal charges could still be brought against any or all of the parties involved,” said Quezada.

The officer’s name would only be released if he is arrested and charged.

Luis and Michael Carrillo, attorneys for two teenagers who were present at the scene, said at their own press conference outside the police department Thursday afternoon that the incident was not only an example of police misconduct but a shocking physical struggle between a grown man and a young teenager.

They represent a 13-year-old Ball Junior High girl who the officer allegedly called a “fucking cunt,” and her 16-year-old brother, a Loara High School student who they say was shoved to the ground by Anaheim Police during their response.

“The officer fired into the ground – what if he had fired in another direction? We would have a dead child,” said Luis Carrillo.

The 16-year-old intends to sue the Anaheim Police Department for the emotional damage caused by excessive use of force during their response. Both he and his sister also filed an internal complaint against the Los Angeles Police Department fir negligence in hiring and training the officer.

Michael Carrillo defended the teenagers who witnessed the altercation.

“Some of these kids are being demonized for what they did, but that boy is a hero,” said Carrillo. “This is about justice and treating teens with respect.”

Wyatt urged the public to respect the officer’s safety and property.

“He’s a human being just like the rest of us,” said Wyatt. “You may not agree with what he did, but he’s entitled to go on with his life free to threat, harm or damage to his property.”

Tait called the incident “a blow to our community” and urged the community to exercise their right to free speech without violence and without damaging property.

“We have worked for years to foster kindness and trust amongst neighbors and we’ve made great progress. What the world saw in that video does not reflect a community where neighbors help each other every day,” said Tait.

Members of the public who wish to express their opinion about their the incident, or share related information, can call a hotline at 714-765-7990.

Contact Thy Vo at tvo@voiceofoc.org or follow her on Twitter @thyanhvo.

RELATED STORIES

Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana, Jr., joined a discussion on KCRW today. Santana and Kate Mather of the Los Angeles Times were guest speakers on a KCRW segment discussing the Anaheim incident between an off-duty police officer and teenagers in Anaheim.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

Blue code of silence, quite evident a grown man used and abused his badge of authority like many cops. This is a police state and the cops know they can steal, deal, rape, mangle and murder. No justice, shoot if I were young I would be a cop, a good one.

Tony Iocca

Look at all the “over-time” this has stirred up.
This situation is a prime example of “Mob Rule” with “Jungle Law” under “Street Justice” a manifestation from the Obama legacy. (Hopeless Confusion)
The Long Arm of the Law kept control of the situation with a Kung-fu grip as a melee formed around him. If those teens have an argument it is a lie. They decided to violently attack their neighbor that is a Police Officer. Some of them recorded it for the fun of it provoking a warning shot on the way home from school.
Discipline is instilled, those kids have displayed a lack there of. What the video shows is these children have been neglected, they have been deprived of “discipline” a basic cultural benefit. A discipline booster “shot”, is now needed more than ever for them to straighten up and fly right…
Parental responsibilities are just as difficult if not more than Police responsibilities. Parents must be more supportive when others step-up and identify problems with children. Praising children for running wild attacking the neighbors is unacceptable.
From interviews with neighbors nearby they have confirmed those children have been causing problems in the neighborhood for most of their short lives.
Defending those children is sending many wrong messages on many levels. I strongly disagree with assertions condemning the actions of that Officer. The scornful mental attitude toward Police is just as disrespectful as the physical attacks nothing productive will come from it. Right now that boy and his parents or parent are relishing in the idea of winning a Law suit. Raising brats that cause trouble for the entire neighborhood then wanting paid off when confronted. Not only are those wild boys at fault, to a degree their parents are also to blame. Lets try and do better and support the people that do jobs many others won’t, wouldn’t, or couldn’t even if they tried.
They fought the Law and the Law won!

questionauthority2

I wonder what all of the commentators here defending the group of thugs would have done if it was them who was assaulted and harassed on their front lawn? IMO the kids are lucky he shot the ground.

That’s right. The second guy jumped the hedge and ran up behind the cop. Not a good move when dealing with a cop. They sorta’ don’t like it.

Paul Lucas

That off duty cop over reacted. Period. and the Anaheim pd obfuscated their duty by not pressing charges on him.

Karen Bayer

OH REALLY? So the chief and mayor are “disturbed” by the video??? Were they “disturbed” that the teens were still on the property after the cop told them to leave? Were they “disturbed” that the teens had been trampling on the cops yard for months? They’ll be even more “disturbed” once neighbors come forward describing how disrespectful the teens are every day. I think the mayor and chief’s time is better spent telling those families to be very careful right now. Once federal funding runs out, Cal. will not be a sanctuary city much longer.

RyanCantor

“I think the mayor and chief’s time is better spent telling those families to be very careful right now.”

Other than the skin color of these families, what evidence do you have that ANYONE lacks legal residence in this community?!

Get a dictionary. Look up ignorance.

SKELLY

I don’t haha. But who knows. Dreamers aren’t safe yet ! ! !

RyanCantor

My PC thing?

It’s called logic.

Being brown does not equate with being an illegal immigrant.

Try, just try, to not let your ignorance dictate your world view.

Karen Bayer

My world view is dictated by statistics.
Texas — 640,000 crimes by illegal immigrants 2007-2014. Seems to be in the culture.
In Los Angeles, 95 percent of all outstanding warrants for homicide target illegal aliens. Up to two-thirds of all fugitive felony warrants (17,000) are for illegal aliens.
According to the FBI, illegal aliens are wreaking havoc in the U.S., with 65 jurisdictions nationwide account for 95 percent of crime in those areas.
Aliens have 1 to 5 arrests and 8 – 10 charges in their record.
An analysis of federal cost figures, found that all illegal households receive an average of $6,241 per year in welfare, 41 percent more than native households.
2/3 of all births in Los Angeles are by illegals aliens. They receive $900 per baby.
Saying NO THANKS is not racist. It’s smart.

Now, go “adjust your chakra.”

LFOldTimer

I said before and I’ll say it again, Karen…..I empathize with the cop. Those kids had no right to violate his property rights or to diss him for attempting to protect his property rights. But he allowed his frustrations to grow out of control. There were other viable ways to deal with the problem. He chose the wrong one. Both the cop and the kids are responsible. So are the school and the kids parents.

SKELLY

I agree. The cop seems to have misunderstood what the kid said “I’m gonna shoot you.” Then he reacted. However, had the teens just stayed off his property and walked on by, the incident would never have taken place. Notice also, they were back last night to smash his windows and car. Very “well behaved” !!! And his parents “model citizens” — wait, make that “residents” — since we haven’t checked with ICE yet. hahah

Flying Goat

Someone smashed his windows and car – doesn’t seem to be any evidence it was those same kids instead of someone else incited by the incident.

Karen Bayer

Of course it was the kids’ friends, families and neighbors!!

Flying Goat

…But you blamed it on the kids, not their friends, family, or neighbors. Also still not clear it was anyone in that group.

Flying Goat

I don’t think the teens had a whole lot of time to leave the property before the officer assaulted one of them…Also worth noting the events on the video were apparently not on his yard, but on his neighbor’s – so yes, officer “get off my lawn or I’ll kill you” was on someone else’s lawn at that point.

I can’t say how disrespectful the teens were, but that’s no excuse for assaulting them, kicking them in the groin (cop admits to that on the video), or pulling a gun on them.

Karen Bayer

It was a repeat thing. The kids did it on purpose and got what they deserve. Further, they were in his yard before the videos started.

Flying Goat

I don’t think a kid deserves to be assaulted or have a gun pulled on him for trespassing. I think assault, battery, and reckless discharge of a firearm are much bigger deals than walking on someone’s grass.

Also worth noting the girl the officer called a c*** said she didn’t know the officer, and had never seen him before, so not sure what you mean by what “they deserve”. Did she deserve to be called that? Did the kid who verbally defended her deserve to be assaulted for defending her?

Karen Bayer

Again, the cop’s story is that they trampled on his yard repeatedly and did so on purpose that day. Second, what did the young lady say to the cop to cause him to cuss her out? Bad language by a cop is “not” against the law.

If you watch again — he acted as a cop in the middle of a riot. At that moment he was not a private citizen. Many off duty cops morph into a cop when they see an illegal act going on. Nothing new here.

And — Nice “family and friends” !! They smashed up the cop’s house and car. Obviously he knew something about those families that we don’t.

Flying Goat

Bad language by a cop is not against the law…Nor is defending someone verbally when a cop swears at her. Grabbing a kid for tresspassing is not acting like a cop. Nor is drawing a gun when there’s no threat – no one, at any point, tried to injure him. His life was not in danger. Nothing to warrant a threat of immediate death. If a strange guy grabbed my kid, and started dragging him around, I’d try to get my kid away from him, too. The fact that they dropped charges against the kid who was grabbed is pretty telling about who was really justified here.

I certainly don’t support vandalism (Not that he doesn’t deserve it, but that sort of lawlessness is completely unproductive, and it’s not even his house, and his father certainly doesn’t deserve it, nor do his neighbors), but I’m stunned that you think it’s a bigger deal than assault, battery, and pulling a gun on a kid.

Curtis Mamzic

I just started reading this, but I’ve noticed you really seem to enjoy trolling, never offer anything nothing serious, just right wing chum trolling, and you’re really good at it.
Don’t miss that part of Southern California.

Shirley L. Grindle

This all started because of kids cutting across his lawn — which is not unusual on corner houses. All the homeowner (the off-duty cop) had to do is plant a hedge fence to prevent people from cutting across the lawn. Many corner houses have done just that to avoid a problem. Appears this off-duty cop relishes confrontations instead of peaceful solutions.

LFOldTimer

How do you know he lived in a corner home?

Besides, kids are supposed to stay off private property. No property owner wants people walking on their land. That’s what sidewalks are for. If kids don’t know that – it’s time for them to learn.

The school is responsible for the student’s actions to and from school. The administration should emphasize to the students that it is a policy violation for them to trespass on private property to and from school, for which there are consequences. If the school is not doing it’s job – the school district should come down on them and ensure they take corrective action.

All of us want to live in a civilized world. And children need to be taught to adapt to the civilized world at a young age. Otherwise their families should move to the Ozarks.

Shirley L. Grindle

*One of the news articles mentioned it was a “corner” house. I agree the kids should not have been cutting across his property, but kids will do that and it can easily be prevented as I described. In any event, this off-duty cop over-reacted to a situation which he should have been adult enough to handle without pulling out his gun. Furthermore, I do not believe the schools are responsible for the kids’ behavior to and from school — that should be the parents job.

LFOldTimer

The school administrators are responsible for the kid’s behavior to and from school in my area. I know that for a fact. One kid was caught causing lots of problems. A neighbor took his photo and reported him. The school banned him from walking to school and required him to take personal or public transportation. It might be a district policy. It might be a state policy. I don’t know. But we never saw the kid again.

Of course it should be the parents job. But oftentimes the parents are worse than the kids. Why do you think there are so many problems in the public school system?

The off-duty cop shouldn’t have to plant a hedge due to a bunch of snotty kids. Besides, a hedge won’t stop them. They’ll go through it or around it. The solution is to take a photo of them then confront the school administrators and the parents.

Cynthia Ward

Lynch mobs numbering in the hundreds don’t get to form if the PD who KNEW a mob was headed for Palais Weds night had shown up first and secured the area, securing the safety of the residents who had to be terrified, when all but ONE had done nothing wrong. Massive fail, Chief. Brought to you by the same leadership team that failed to show up for a KKK rally they knew was coming and they knew had protestors showing up. Brought by the same leadership that escalated a protest into a riot in July 2012 by reacting with riot gear and locking citizens out of City Hall instead of preparing for the orderly line up of people to speak to their elected leaders. At what point do we DEMAND a common sense pro active position to PREVENT issues? The official APD position appears to be let the explosion occur, show up later with a show of force (on overtime pay) and excuse it with a press release. This is not acceptable. Period. We will get to the bottom of what happened between the kids and the cop, and just because someone has not been arrested or charged YET does not mean they won’t. Nor does our reaction in the least bit impact whether those charges will be filed. But right now the one thing we DO control is how our City leadership holds accountable the epic fail of our APD leadership, which leaves their own GOOD. hard-working rank and file officers less safe, and leaves our citizens WAY less safe. ENOUGH, Chief. Anaheim deserves better protection.

Flying Goat

“We will get to the bottom of what happened”? Doubtful – whenever a cop is involved, the cops circle the wagons, making every possible excuse for the cop’s bad behavior, whether he was on duty or off, and always decide the other party was at fault, which the officer is just a swell guy who can do no wrong.

Karen Bayer

I agree. Since when do we allow protestors to wear face masks — like they’re ISIS !!!
Then they burn things, which is ARSON and comes with a 10 year prison term / pepper-spray people — assault — 30 days to 2 years / and inciting riots 10 years and $250,000 restitution. Police departments have been THUMB-SUCKERS in the last 8 years.

Cynthia Ward

Uh…what arm of law enforcement would you suggest be used to remove face coverings for those who are protesting? What law is broken by wearing a mask? Wearing a mask while engaging in the legal (annoying, yes, but legal) protest? Wearing a mask while vandalizing stuff gets you busted for vandalism, I don’t think there is a sentencing enhancement for vandalism while wearing a mask. In short, we don’t “allow” anyone to do anything, as citizens we have the right to do as we please, including wearing a mask, as long as our actions are otherwise legal. Constitution much?

verifiedsane

If the media spent even one quarter of the efforts, time, and space that is being wasted upon this much overblown and hyped story, reporting on the wave of real serous crimes happening throughout Anaheim and OC related to gang violence, lawlessness, and institutionalized political corruption; then just maybe there wouldn’t be the clear lines of division & divisiveness drawn in the sand that these carnival side show stories tend to create.

The rush to judgement in this case is just astonishing before “all” the facts have been presented, investigated, & considered. This has eerily similar tendencies to stories like the Ferguson fiasco with the thoroughly debunked “hands up, don’t shoot” MSM opinion propaganda. Whipping up extremist hysteria doesn’t do anything to promote order, community, justice, solutions, or truth. This story is becoming little more than a ping pong ball of politically motivated partisans running for the cover of their particular political leanings.

So let’s just gather up the lynch mob folks, get this show on the road, and then celebrate afterwards with a good old fashion weeny roast, a little rioting, and some free stuff plunder looting. We can call it demo-crazy just for laughs… 🙂

LFOldTimer

You’re correct, verified.

It sucks on both ends of the spectrum.

Jade Currier

Although the policeman’s actions were totally out of line everyone is forgetting how this group of young thugs totally disrespected this man’s property and thst this has probably been an ongoing event. If the kids would have just walked on the sidewalk this wouldn’t have happened. The parents of course looking for a quick payoff hire attorneys to get money. You should be ahamed of yourself and teach your children to be respectful of other people and of their property.

David Zenger

Out of line. Yes. Criminally out of line.

Flying Goat

Trespassing is a misdemeanor. Assault and battery on a minor is a felony.

LFOldTimer

Some of these kids are raised in chaos and have no decent role models to teach them the difference between right and wrong. The evidence of that is everywhere. All you need to do is open your eyes.

The school is also mandated to instill values in these kids. But if the kid is raised in a barn, that’s hard to do. But the school is responsible for the kids actions to and from school.

So there are multiple guilty parties in this fiasco. But people tend to point their fingers in the direction that their personal ideologies demand.

Most of us aren’t objective.

Cynthia Ward

Ironically, the kid in question is being raised by an employee of the Anaheim Police Department. Barn? Lack of values?

LFOldTimer

I have no idea how the “kid in question” is being raised. Only those in his family circle would know that.

But, in general, kids who are taught to respect the rights of others usually do so. Naturally there are exceptions to every rule. I have spoken to people who work in child development. They tell me that there is a direct relationship between the way the child his raised and his or her behavior. That makes perfect sense to me.

There are good people and bad people who work at police departments. So that means little to me.

Cynthia Ward

I agree, parents who teach kids to respect the property of others tend to produce kids who respect the property of others. Same goes for the respect for someone’s life. On the other hand, I have seen really, really bad parents turn out kids who are amazing, and I have seen amazing parents end up with low-lifes for offspring. There is a combo platter of upbringing, genetics and just plain dumb luck. That said…the media has now released the name and address of the cop, whose life in Anaheim is pretty much over at this point, and that is not healthy for anyone, least of all the neighborhood that will be dealing with the negative outfall of this for a while. Initially I was confused, as I used to live in the area and I know the corner houses at Palais and Euclid have brick walls from where this was the entrance to the housing tract. Now I see this occurred further to the east end where Palais swoops to the north to access Palm Lane Elementary before it stops at Loara Street. Which means the cop has kids coming from Loara High and using Palais to access the field at Palm Lane as a cut through to Ball Road where many live in the apartments (easier and faster than Euclid to Ball with that many kids on the sidewalk.) PLUS Ball Jr High kids doing the reverse to access the homes south of their school, and all of the above if they live in the housing tract itself, because Palais is the only access into the Enchanted Homes tract from their end. So this could potentially be 1,000 kids or more per day? Hundreds at least. When I lived there, on a less traveled corner. we put in a FENCE! What a concept. You want people to respect your property? Make it inaccessible. We live in a different neighborhood now, but still on a corner, and we have landscaping all around to prevent cut through traffic. It is on ME as the homeowner to make my corner lot as uninviting to pedestrians as I want it to be. Unfair, but that is life. I should also be able to wear expensive jewelry in any situation I choose but I know better, (I also own very little expensive jewelry which makes it easy.) In a perfect world people respect us and our stuff and when we see how imperfect our world is we put a padlock on the locker at work and we put our car in the garage and we put up a fence for our corner lot. Grabbing a gun is NOT the default answer for the vast majority of the population, whether we own one or not, and no matter how provoked we may be.

LFOldTimer

As I’ve said, I think the cop used poor judgment. There were other options available that he could’ve used to take care of the problem. The problem started when he grabbed the kid. Based on the information reported in the news I think that should have been avoided.

However, I don’t think a homeowner should have to build a fence to keep people out of his yard, just as I shouldn’t have to install steel bars on my windows to keep people from climbing into my residence. Kids should know better than to walk across a private yard. I refuse to give a kid a pass just because he’s a kid. If he’s told once to stay out of the yard – he should respect the instructions. If he defiantly does it again he should be punished. During the school assemblies the administrators should make it blatantly clear to the student body to respect the property rights of the neighbors to and from school. And there should be consequences for those who don’t.

IMO there are no innocent parties in this incident. But we do expect more from adults and especially from a cop who is trained to use proper judgment.

Becks Torres

Sue for emotional damage. Really? Hilarious.

Jade Currier

I agree…

Flying Goat

Having an armed man assault you, shoot a gun inches away from you, and threaten you with imminent death is pretty terrifying, I’d assume.

Becks Torres

I didn’t read anywhere that this young girl was assaulted nor did I see any videos that he shot the gun inches from her. If these kids would have gone straight home none of this would have happened. However, the cop made bad decisions and, in my opinion, crossed the line. He will be dealt with accordingly.

David Zenger

How odd. I watched the video, Chief. I saw this clown commit four felonies. And yet the 13 year old gets hauled off to Juvenile hall?

“Quezada said there was “clear and compelling evidence” the 13-year-old made criminal threats against the officer,”

In other words the cops took their fellow cop’s word as Gospel. Anybody watching the video can clearly hear the kid tell the grown man “I didn’t say I was going to shoot you, I said I was going to sue you.”

“Quezada said there wasn’t enough evidence to prove “the officer’s conduct rose to the level of a criminal act.'”

Um, gee, how about interviewing the kids and reviewing their videos?

I want a new Police Chief.

LFOldTimer

When’s the last time you saw one cop throw another cop under the bus? It’s a very rare event. Whistleblowers don’t last long in police work. Did you ever see the movie “Serpico”?

Look at the SA police union’s reaction to Chief Rojas after he fired the dispensary raid clowns.

What I saw on that video I would expect to see from a knuckle dragger in a trailer park after guzzling a 6-pack of Billy Beer. Not from a veteran cop. No idea what he was thinking. Of all the options available – he chose the wrong one. It reminded me of Barney on Mayberrry RFD.

Kids are generally really stupid. Adults have to be smarter than the kids.

David Zenger

And interesting: the juvenile’s name is all over the place but not the name of the cop. Why not? He wasn’t even on duty.

LFOldTimer

The cop has rights. The kid doesn’t. You can thank the State Legislature and police union campaign donations for that.

pdwpi

Because he was not charged.

Karen Bayer

Probably because there’s one of him and 5,000 Latinos in his neighborhood?? Who, incidentally, already smashed every window in his house and car.
What’s that number to I.C.E. again??

RyanCantor

Great. Call ICE because there are brown people.

Really classy comment, Karen. And by classy, I mean racist.

Karen Bayer

Call it want you want, homes. I’m tired of paying $25 BILLION a year for Cal. illegals, and/or $250 BILLION last 10 yrs — and/or $100 BILLION a year nationwide. Further, 54% of all illegals are on some form of welfare — while Blacks sleeping on the street up in L.A. have no chance of welfare assistance. Further, kids up in South Central and Compton have toilets that don’t work at school, no A/C or computers in their classrooms — and why??? Because we’re spending all our money on ILLEGALS. Further, this year we’re gonna’ be $2 BILLION short on the state budget. Racist is when you lock out certain groups and coddle only one race! Meantime, Nieto allows 5-year olds to run around Tijuana at 12 midnight without adult supervision (I was there!) subjecting them to trafficking and rape. So don’t expect me to run to the confessional booth any time soon. Further, all an illegal has to do is come in here, drop a baby and she gets $1,000 a month and another $500 for every baby after that — while her boyfriend (who is actually her husband, but they don’t tell us that) goes out and makes even more money without paying taxes! Like I said, those kids and their families need to be very careful right now because this California TOILET is about to get drained.

RyanCantor

First, I’m not your homie.

Second, you don’t pay $25 Billion. We do.

Third, you’re confusing the issue. You identify someone who happens to be brown colored as illegal, which is flat out wrong. That has nothing to do with impacts of policy, just your cold racist heart.

Further, I’m not a racist … I’m smart. California is totally overrun and even Black citizens are complaining about how the Hispanics are being coddled.

Further, former ICE Director, Sarah Saldana, agrees with ME. Not you. She told Congress in August 2016 … “Our office is at the BREAKING POINT ! ! ! ! ”

Questions?

RyanCantor

Reading comprehension much?

You assume attributes of an individual or group of individuals are true based on the color of their skin. That makes you ignorant, not smart. It also makes you a racist.

Sarah Saldana isn’t commenting on your identity as a racist, so your invocation of her statement is irrelevant. Not that I expect you to understand why, obviously.

Have a sweet weekend. Try not to wreck anyone’s life with your unfounded prejudice.

Karen Bayer

Tell it to the FBI stats, babe.

RyanCantor

No, babe.

That’s not how statistics work. You’ve assumed that’s what not even a casual connection somehow ties information collected on general behavior to specific families in Anaheim. This is illogical reasoning.

I get that you’re ignorant. I get that you’re not capable of Jr. High logic.

I don’t get why you’re so smug about it.

Set a higher bar for your behavior, even if you can’t set one for your intelligence.

Karen Bayer

Read your post again and see if it makes any sense. It’s unintelligible. I, on the other hand, sent you the FBI and GOA numbers, which clearly quanitify that there’s a problem. But I can see why you have to desperately evade them … at all costs.

RyanCantor

I’ll break it down for you.

You claim illegal immigrants cause problems.

You have drawn absolutely no connection whatsoever to anyone involved in this story or discussion to your claim. That’s a pretty significant problem that’s apparently beyond your grasp.

Karen Bayer

I was speaking in generalities, because I’m not one to ignore statistics.

RyanCantor

But you’ll ignore basic logic?

Whatever floats your boat, I guess.

Walt Wilde

Wow Ryan, way to go after Karen when she pays 25 billion dollars out of her own pocket every year. Talk about a subscription fee!

Karen Bayer

Right. Which you obviously don’t pay because you’ve been coddled by BARRY SOETORO for eight years, and — because your Welfare Mommy didn’t win the election, you’ll probably continue to evade paying taxes.

Yeah, and the KKK in the White House brokered 1.2 million “colorless” jobs so far, in less than 8 weeks. Stand by for those Phat Trump Jobs and Phat Trump Paychecks comin’ your way very soon.

Becks Torres

Sorry to say, but Karen is saying what many of us are thinking, but much more harshly and with a tinge of racism. The system is broken and worked to the max by a large population of illegal and legal citizens. Something must be done.

Curtis Mamzic

Interesting.
You’re the same person who said the kids need to be more respectful of nice cops like this guy on another post.

Becks Torres

Um, today’s youth do need to be more respectful and I stand by my comment. It doesn’t exonerate the cop and I never said he was nice; I don’t know him. Apparently, you do.

Curtis Mamzic

They certainly may, just like they need good schools, role models, health care, and part time jobs, but that’s not what’s the issue here.

josey whales

Gee

Wacanta

Somehow I have the feeling that you’re OK with the mango madman wanting to spend $54billion more for defense spending next year, which will bring the total to $603billion, which is more than the next 10 countries combined. Trying to hide your racism by masking it with “fiscal responsibility” isn’t fooling anyone, homie.

Al F

Karen Bayer wow what a waste of idiot you are.

Karen Bayer

Which “wasteful” comment didn’t you like? The statistics I posted on illegal alien crime? Or the one about Trump brokering 1.2 millions jobs in less than 2 weeks?

Cynthia Ward

Karen, your conclusion that anytime a Latino is involved they are “illegals” is what many here find offensive, For the record, I know most of the people objecting to your brand of “Americanism” and they are Republicans, as am I. Not all of us Republicans are looking to “Make America All White Again” and some of us can even comprehend that one might be Latino AND American born citizens, maybe even 2nd or 3rd generation. Come to think of it, I have a neighbor descended from “Mexicans” who were here before the white folks showed up. (Ontiveros and Yorba descendants.) But please, assume away. You won’t find many buyers for your worldview on this comments thread, though. This is not a knee jerk reaction Alt Right fake news website. Try elsewhere.

Karen Bayer

Yes, I’m a aware of that. However, the probability that the boy’s parents and relatives are here legally is practically … “zero” … in Orange County. Therefore, the likelihood of my assumption is correct. Further, after the abuse our state budget has taken in the past 10 years alone ($250 Billion spent of illegals), I have no problem stickin’ it once in a while.
And by the way …

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW A “BLACK CITIZEN” CODDLED BY A SANCTUARY CITY. QUICK !! THINK !!

Steve W.

“Anybody watching the video can clearly hear the kid tell the grown man “I didn’t say I was going to shoot you, I said I was going to sue you.””

Do you have kids? If not, then maybe you don’t understand that kids often lie when they’re caught and facing consequences. Maybe the Dorscht kid said “shoot” and maybe he said “sue.” But what do you think Dorscht was going to say to the off-duty cop in that situation? “You’re damn right I said I’d shoot you”?

I’ve watched the different videos on online and what I see is a frustrated homeowner who overreacted and then found himself surrounded and attacked by a couple dozen hostile teenagers. Why didn’t any of those kids call the cops?

David Zenger

Whatever you say, champ.

I saw a grown man yanking around a little kid and then pulling and firing a gun. A frustrated homeowner? I saw a knucklehead who has no business carrying a loaded weapon anywhere.

RyanCantor

“If not, then maybe you don’t understand that kids often lie when they’re caught and facing consequences.”

If you think that adults, particularly ones with over inflated egos, don’t often lie when they’re caught and facing consequences, I have a bridge I’d like to sell you.

This officer had absolutely no business bringing an improperly holstered weapon into public, particularly with an intent to escalate a confrontation with a minor. He also has absolutely no right to physically restrain anyone for a minor infraction like walking on a lawn. It’s quite clear he felt disrespected and made some very poor choices as a result.

There is exactly one person responsible for escalating a common act of A CHILD into one utilizing deadly force. One. That person should bear the sole cost of resolving this near catastrophe, and the cost should be quite steep.

No kid should ever be shot at because he or she walked on a neighbors lawn. Ever. For any reason.

Steve W.

That’s your point of view. Maybe the kid is telling the truth. Unlike David Zenger, I’m not automatically taking him at his word and assuming the off-duty-cop is in the wrong when none of us is in possession of all the facts.

Also, the cop didn’t shoot AT anyone. Packing heat was a bad call. That doesn’t excuse those teenagers from attacking him and acting like a pack.

David Zenger

“…none of us is in possession of all the facts.”

You mean like the fact that this off-duty cop has a bad temper and miserable judgment? Like the fact that he confronted the 13 year old kid ALREADY armed with a loaded pistol shoved into his pants?

Yeah, those unknown facts are sure perplexing.

Steve W.

You know for a fact he has a bad temper? Stuffing a pistol in his belt was a bad decision, I agree. But none of us know enough to say he’s a person who had bad judgment. Can we assume you have never made a mistake?

David Zenger

I would say any reasonable person watching Mr. Policeman’s belligerent behavior could reasonably conclude he is belligerent.

You can assume (correctly) that I have never accosted, held, assaulted, battered or pulled a loaded gun on anybody, let alone a 13 year old.

As for not knowing the facts, it’s true. I don’t know where bonehead went to high school and I don’t know what he ate for breakfast, plus a million other irrelevancies. I do know he left his house to confront the kids after stuffing a loaded pistol in his pants. From there Mr. Policeman’s good judgment really kicked in.

Curtis Mamzic

You’re really trying, but it’s not working.

Curtis Mamzic

Why was the cop shooting at all?
At kids?
Why did he do this when he was way outnumbered, unless he felt he could pull his gun and “equalize” the numbers?

David Zenger

Good summation. The Lucille Kring Krowd is predictably talking about “thugs.” The only thug I see in the video is the skinheaded dude in sunglasses.

Karen Bayer

Remind me to buy him a beer.

LFOldTimer

Cops have a legal right to carry off-duty. Most do.

I don’t have all the facts. But according to the accounts I’ve read in the news so far the cop was out of line.

If this was an on-going situation the cop could’ve a wired his home with surveillance cameras for $200. An expense that a cop making a nice six-figure compensation could handle. He could have taken the surveillance footage over to the local school and complained to the administration. The school is responsible for student behavior both coming to school and going home in the afternoon. That would’ve nipped the problem right in the bud.

Or the cop could have taken photos of the kids with his cell camera and turned the photos over to both the school and APD. That would have stopped the problem.

Although I empathize with the cop who was protecting his property rights, he made a bad choice and put himself and those kids in danger. Cops are supposed to have superb judgment. They are trained to analyze situations and take appropriate action. The action this off-duty cop took was not appropriate based on the reports I’ve read. Any non-LE citizen would have gone to jail for it.

Personally, I would never grab a kid regardless of how mad I was at him, unless I witnessed him commit a serious act of violence against me or another person or if I witnessed him perpetrate a serious act of vandalism against my property that would cost significant money to repair.

Otherwise, I would get a photo and take it up with those who are supposed to supervise the kid.

Common sense.

Al F

I agree

Karen Bayer

This occurred repeatedly. It was not a one-of …

Curtis Mamzic

But then someone like you would see that, wouldn’t you?

Curtis Mamzic

Seriously?
How many of you if someone said to you “I’m going to shoot you” would go up and grab that person?
Especially if you’re a trained LEO packing a concealed weapon?
Maybe that’s what they teach the LAPD to do, but don’t you think that if someone actually said that to you that you might pull your gun and say “freeze, hands up, police” instead?”
If not, why not?
This Lone Ranger’s got some splainin’ to do on that one.

JMM

The kids did call the cops. Ferguson didn’t, nor did he ask anyone to. There are multiple witnesses, including a neighbor, who say they heard Dorscht initially say “sue.” Dorscht didn’t have a gun — none of the kids did. Ferguson was the only one with a gun. He was also the only one drinking beer. Ferguson followed and attacked Dorscht on the sidewalk, then his friends tried to free him after Ferguson dragged him across two neighbor’s yards.

That’s pretty quick thinking you’re attributing to Dorscht (“hmmm, should I just say I didn’t say that? That would be the easiest way to get out of this. No, I’ll come up with something that sounds like “shoot.” What sounds like “shoot”? “hoot, boot, suit, newt… I know! Sue! Sue sounds a lot like “shoot” and that’s something you might threaten to do.”) But there’s no evidence that Dorscht was lying, despite how much people are bending over backwards to make this the fault of the kids whom Ferguson terrorized.

Flying Goat

And the cops are already circling the wagons – they dropped the assault charge against the kid who was actually assaulted, but are continuing with the charges against the two kids who tried to get the cop off of him, with no charges against the cop – the one who actually committed assault and battery (And admits to kneeing his victim in the groin in the video, for trying to get away from him).

I have no confidence in the legal system’s ability to deal with cops assaulting anyone, but even more so when it comes to attacks against anyone who isn’t white.

Al F

David Zenger well said. I agree completely.

LFOldTimer

No police moolah or endorsements for you, Mayor Tait! And don’t expect an invitation to the Annual Policeman’s Ball either.

My guess is that the investigation will last 6 months. By that time the public will forget about it. No charges filed. The DA will tell us there wasn’t enough evidence to warrant a conviction. Case dismissed in the interest of justice. You can read all about it in the newspaper in the local section on pp. 6.

Wash, rinse, air dry…..repeat if necessary.

David Zenger

“No police moolah or endorsements for you, Mayor Tait!”

LOL. I think the Mayor gave up on that “honor” quite some time ago.

Cynthia Ward

Given the outrageous lies presented by the Police unions in recent elections, I would say not getting the PD endorsements and big bucks is an advantage and frankly a badge of honor. Folks turned down the chance to support Jordan Brandman and Steve Lodge, despite the big moolah from PD AND Disney and friends. Anaheim sees through it. Keep holding feet to the fire, Mr. Mayor.

LFOldTimer

Go to any city council meeting, Cynthia.

All you will hear from the dais is oozing praise for the cops. When there is negative news about the cops (illegal informant scandal, etc…) all the council people are silent (in 90% of the cities).

All are afraid that the cops will support and endorse their opponents at reelection time. So they’re all complicit.

They pushed Supervisor Do over the top last November with the $86,000 contribution.

They’ve pushed the story line that it’s un-American to criticize the police when criticism is not only appropriate, it’s warranted to maintain a free society.

Cynthia Ward

LFOLDTIMER I am AT every Council meeting, and I get up and speak on behalf of conservative and fiscally responsible government, so clearly you are the one who isn’t watching. Mayor Tait has stood strong against the outrageous spikes for public safety pensions we CANNOT AFFORD, and he is NOT anti-cop to take that stand, none of those staff will be living on beans and rice with their current pensions, and when we keep pumping up those amounts it ensures we will default on those pensions and leave our hard working public safety heroes WITHOUT pensions or fighting in court against the bond holders for the massive long term debt Anaheim has lawyered on top of the pension obligations (special at tip to the recent Council majority who ARE the ones gushing all over the cops, or were before we took them from their seats one by one over the last few elections. Spend, spend, spend, it is all they do, when what we need to spend money on is to hire more cops so they are actually proactively in the area when KNOWN threats to safety and property are expected.

LFOldTimer

Oh, I know you’re a good citizen, Cynthia. You should be proud of yourself for taking an active role in your city government.

I meant that the average city council member in Orange County acts as a cheerleader for the cops. Mayor Tait is an exception to the rule and is one of the 5%. Rarely do I ever hear a negative word about the police from 95% of city council members or the Board of Supervisors. The cops can do no wrong. All are heroes. They are our protectors. Blah blah blah blah blah.

I have nothing against commending cops who do a good job. But the other side to the story should also be told. Bad police behavior should be condemned publicly by elected officials. But it never is.

Police union donations and endorsements keep them quiet.

Becks Torres

Agreed. Mayor Tait is one the good guys. Quite the gentleman. 🙂

Becks Torres

Right. And we saw through the lies and did away with most of the old regime at city hall at election time.